Different government and private organisations will celebrate the National Film Day today holding a variety of colourful entertainment.
Last year the government declared April 3 as the National Film Day, marking commemorating placement of the East Pakistan Film Development Corporation Act at the Provincial Assembly on April 3, 1957 by the then industries and commerce minister, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Bangladesh Film Development Corporation, widely known as FDC, has organised a three-day programme. The day’s celebrations will begin with bringing out a colourful procession in the morning. FDC’s three-day programme will also include discussion sessions, seminar and film screening on its premises.
Bangladesh Film Archive and Bangladesh Film Archive Alumni Association have jointly organised a three-day film poster exhibition at the Zainul Gallery at Dhaka University. The exhibition will remain open from 10:00am to 8:00pm for everybody.
Moreover, BFA, in association with Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy and Chalachitram Film Society has organised a film festival at the National Art Plaza auditorium of the academy.
The Edward M Kennedy Center for Public Service and the Arts, in collaboration with the Dhaka University Film Society has organised a two-day short film festival at the EMK Centre in Dhanmondi. Films made by twenty two aspiring film directors will be showcased in the festival.
Bangladesh Television and Channel-i will broadcast special programmes marking the day.
However, people affiliated with the film industry observe that such celebrations will not have any impact for the development of a dying industry. ‘It’s something like “death anniversary” observations as the industry is already dead,’ eminent actor –director Sohel Rana said.
‘It’s just an irony when the FDC recalls Bangabandhu’s contributions for the development of film industry in the middle of the last century and at the same time is trying to import Indian films violating the ban imposed by the great leader,’ he added.
Supplementing him, noted film director Sohanur Rahman Sohan, who is also the vice-president of Bangladesh Film Directors’ Association, said, ‘I don’t know what will be the actual benefit of celebrating the day as “the birthday” of film industry of Dhaka, unless the government takes a holistic approach to save the industry and executes those plans considering the benefits of the local film industry.’
Explaining the logic behind celebrating the day, Pijush Bandyopadhyay, MD of FDC said, ‘At least for single day in a year, people will think about the welfare of the film industry.’ He further claimed that the government had taken some initiatives for the development of the industry after National Film Day was declared last year. ‘We are going to get a film institute soon and the construction work of a new archive building is going on,’ he added.
-With New Age input
